Tampon applicator

ABSTRACT

Tampon applicator for feminine hygiene, comprising a cylindrical applicator barrel of paper-like material, having a front end comprising segments which are bent forwards and inward with respect to the longitudinal center axis of the applicator barrel, forming a dome whereby a weakening of the segments is provided for reducing their resistance to a spreading movement of the segments during the pushing out of a tampon from the applicator barrel. The bases of the segments are formed by the front, solid-cylindrical end of the applicator barrel and the weakening of the segments is provided on the inner surface and at an axial distance from the base of the segments. The tampon applicator reduces the ejecting pressure by means of the predetermined breaking lines at the inner surface of each segment while the smooth outside of the segments reduces irritations when in use. Additionally, the invention relates to a process and an apparatus for manufacturing said tampon applicator.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a tampon applicator and to a process for itsproduction and an apparatus for carrying out this process. The tamponapplicator has a domed expulsion end with petal-weakening features.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Tampon applicators having an applicator barrel and a plunger tube in atelescopic arrangement are commercially available. The applicator barrelgenerally contains a tampon and at least the front portion of theplunger tube. The barrel and plunger may be formed of a molded,thermoplastic material or a sheet-like material, such as paper andcardboard, coated paper, and the like. Recent developments have includedthe use of a rounded expulsion end formed of a plurality of curvedsegments known as petals. Tampons having this general construction aredisclosed in Weigner, U.S. Pat. No. 4,412,833, Beastall et al., U.S.Pat. No. 5,087,239, Decker et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,453,925, Frayman etal., WO 94/10959, Hinzmann, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,302,174 and 4,755,164, andHinzmann et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,321,993.

It is now recognized that designers of such tampon applicators need toreduce the force needed to expel tampons. Thus, Weigner, Beastall etal., and Frayman et al. provide a hinge at the base of the petals. Inaddition, Frayman et al. provide a plurality of small cuts extendingcircumferentially from end of the slits and a plurality ofcircumferential score lines in about the hinge. Decker et al. alsoprovides exterior score lines, claiming that they reduce wrinkling,spring-back and other detriments known in paper applicator tubes.However, these exterior score lines provide potential sources ofirritation to users during insertion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to significantly reduce the forcenecessary to expel the tampon out of the applicator barrel, to increaseinsertion comfort for the user, and to provide a process and anapparatus which permit an efficient production of the tampon applicator,meeting the requirements demanded of mass production.

The invention achieves these objects by forming rounded petals at theexpulsion end of the applicator. The petals are weakened on their innersurface and at an axial distance from the base of the segments wherethey transition to the cylindrical applicator barrel. This achieves theeffect that the bending resistance to a bending out of the segmentsduring ejecting of a tampon arranged in the applicator barrel issignificantly reduced, because the width and the curvature of eachsegment are less at the hinge line running in the circumferentialdirection than at the segment base. The location of the lines ofweakness on the inner surface of each segment at a distance between thehinge line and the free end of each segment further reduces expulsionforce. The surface section of each segment lying in front of the hingeline generally opposes the expulsion forces acting outward in responseto a bending out of the segments with less of a bending resistance.Thus, partially weakening the wall thickness of the petal material wherethey are curved to form the domed expulsion end acts to reduce expulsionforces needed. The smooth outer surface of the segments reducesirritation which may otherwise arise during use of the tamponapplicator.

In forming the tampon applicator, a plurality of mutually separate,longitudinally extending segments or petals are cut out of at least oneend of an applicator blank. The applicator blank is formed of a sectionof paper-like material. The sides of the blank are joined to produce thecylindrical applicator barrel, and the longitudinally extending segmentsare shaped to form petals in a dome with a central opening bounded bythe front ends of the petals. A hinge line may be formed into the blankbefore it is formed into the cylindrical applicator barrel, or it may beformed in the formed applicator barrel. The hinge line is spaced towardthe segment ends, away from their base where they transition to thecylindrical applicator barrel. At the same time, lines of weakness,extending substantially in the longitudinal direction of the applicatorare formed in the inner surface of the petals, spaced toward the segmentends and separated from the circumferential hinge line.

An apparatus useful to form the tampon applicator and to practice theabove process includes a stamping and notching apparatus. This stampingand notching apparatus has (a) a stamping head with a convex end face;(b) an outer die with a cylindrical recess and a concave base; and (c)notching jaws. The notching jaws are located in the stamping head andcan be moved back and forth radially with respect to the longitudinalcenter axis of the stamping head by means of an actuating device. Thenotching jaws have notching edges which are arranged in a plane directedperpendicularly with respect to the main axis of the stamping head atangular intervals on an imaginary circle for forming hinge lines on theinner surface of triangular segments of an applicator barrel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to thediagrammatic drawing of an exemplary embodiment of a tampon applicatorand of an apparatus for producing the same, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a two-part tampon applicatoraccording to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows the front end of an outer barrel of the tampon applicatorin FIG. 1 in an enlarged, broken-away representation;

FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal central section according to line III—III inFIG. 4, in partially broken-away representation, with a view of theinner surface of the applicator barrel;

FIG. 4 shows a view of the inner surface of the front end of theapplicator barrel according to crosssection IV—IV in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 shows a plan view of the inner surface of a developed projectionof an applicator barrel with punched-out segments, in partiallybroken-away representation;

FIG. 5a shows a plan view of the inner surface of a single segment,similar to FIG. 5, according to an alternative embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 6 shows a cross-section VI—VI through regions of weakness of thesegments in FIG. 5 on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 7 shows a longitudinal section through an outer die of a combinednotching and stamping apparatus with an applicator barrel arrangedtherein after stamping of the same;

FIG. 8 shows a first embodiment of a stamping punch of the notching andstamping apparatus in a starting position or position of rest inlongitudinal central section;

FIG. 9 shows the stamping punch according to FIG. 8 in the workingposition; and

FIG. 10 shows a second embodiment of a stamping punch in the position ofrest, in a longitudinal central section; and

FIG. 11 shows the stamping punch according to FIG. 10 in the notchingposition, in partially broken-away representation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In FIG. 1 there is shown a tampon applicator 10, which is composed of atubular slide 12 and a substantially cylindrical applicator barrel 14.The slide 12 and/or the applicator barrel 14 preferably are formed ofpaper or a paper-like material. If appropriate, they may, also beproduced from plastic-coated paper, or even a sheet of plastic,preferably biodegradable plastic.

The applicator barrel 14 surrounds a tampon (not shown) for femininehygiene of liquid-absorbing fibrous material. A withdrawal string 16 ofthe tampon hangs out of the rear end of the slide 12. At the front endof the applicator barrel 14 there are arranged a plurality of generallytriangular segments 18, which are bent forwards and inward symmetricallywith respect to the longitudinal center axis of the applicator barrel 14to give a front, convex, preferably hemispherical, dome 20. Each segment18 has an inner surface 22 (FIGS. 3 to 7), an outer surface 24 (FIGS. 1,2 and 6), a rounded-off tip 26, a base 28 (FIGS. 2, 5 and 7) andopposite, rounded-off side edges 30, 32. The side edges 30, 32 of eachsegment 18 are independent of the side edges of neighboring segments 18and separated, according to FIG. 5, by slits 34, which extend from thetip 26 of each segment 18 as far as the base 28 of the segments 18.While the slits 34 are shown as having a noticeable width, this widthmay be minimized to reduce the likelihood of catching and nipping bodytissue during insertion and use. This base 28 of the segments 18 isformed by the front, solid-cylindrical end of the applicator barrel 14.The tips 26 of the segments 18 bound a front, central opening 48 of theapplicator barrel 14. The diameter of this opening 48 may be, forexample, 5 mm (FIG. 4).

A weakening of the segments 18 is provided on their inner surface forreducing their resistance to a spreading movement of the segments 18during the pushing out of a tampon from the applicator barrel 14, whichis designed in a special way, according to the invention, and isdescribed in more detail below.

This weakening of each segment 18 on its inner surface 22 comprises onthe one hand at least one hinge line 36, which in each case extends inthe circumferential direction of the applicator barrel 14. According toFIGS. 2 to 6, each hinge line 36 of the segments 18 is arranged at anaxial distance “a” before the base 28 of the segments 18, which distanceshould lie in the range of in each case 2 to 6 mm and in the presentexemplary embodiment is preferably 3.5 mm. The segments 18 have at theirbase 28 a width of in each case 8.8 mm. According to FIG. 5, the lengthof each hinge line 36 notched into the inner surface 22 of each segment18 is made less than the width of each segment 18 and is arrangedsymmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of each segment 18.In the present case, the two ends of each hinge line 36 lie at adistance “d” of, for example, 1 mm before the nearest side edge 30, 32of each segment 18. The length of each hinge line 36 is 6.24 mm. Thelength of the segments 18 between their hinge line 36 and tip 26 isbetween 7 mm and 12 mm, in the present exemplary embodiment preferably10.735 mm.

On the other hand, the weakening of the segments 18 on their innersurface 22 is provided by lines of weakness 38, which begin in each caseat a small distance “b” from the side of the hinge line 36 of eachsegment 18 facing towards the tip 26 of each segment 18 and extend fromthere over a partial section of the length of each segment 18.

In the partially broken-away plan view according to FIG. 5 there isillustrated the inner surface 22 of a developed projection of theapplicator barrel 14 of an initially rectangular section of length 40 ofpaper-like material having a thickness of 0.3 mm to 0.5 mm, preferably0.35 mm to 0.40 mm. This section of length 40 may have an overall lengthof 43.7 mm and an overall width of 152 mm, the segments 18 beingprovided on its narrow sides. All the lines of weakness 38 are alignedapproximately towards the tip 26 of each segment 18 and have anapproximately equal length. As a consequence, from the longitudinalcenter of each segment 18 towards its side edges 30, 32, the lines ofweakness 38 run ever more parallel to the side edges 30, 32. A centralline of weakness 38 of each segment 18 is preferably arranged exactly onthe longitudinal center line of the segment 18. As a departure from thepresent exemplary embodiment, the lines of weakness 38 of each segment18 may also be aligned parallel to one another. Furthermore, the linesof weakness 38 may be made increasingly longer towards the center ofeach segment 18 as shown, for example, in FIG. 5a. The lines of weakness38 are preferably 2.5 to 6.5 mm long. Particularly preferred is a lengthof the lines of weakness 38 of 4 mm. The lines of weakness 38advantageously have a spacing of 0.5 mm×300. The cross-section of thelines of weakness 38 is V-shaped, the angle of the V leg being 35°. Thegreatest clear width of the V-shaped lines of weakness 38 is 0.5 mm witha depth of penetration into the paper-like material of approximately ⅔of its thickness.

The inner and outer radii of curvature of the dome 20 formed by thesegments 18 lie in the range between 6 and 9 mm. As a rule, threedifferent dome sizes with outer radii of curvature of 6.65, 7.65 and8.65 mm, respectively, and inner radii of curvature of 6.3, 7.25 and8.25 mm, respectively, are preferred in the case of tampon applicatorswith barrels of different diameters for different tampon sizes.

Preferably, both the stamped lines of weakness 38 and the hinge lines 36are provided on the inner surface 22 of each segment 18 to maintain thesmooth, outer surface of the segments 18. This allows easier insertionof the tampon applicator 10 into the body cavity. In addition, thearrangement of the hinge lines 36 separated axially from and betweenboth the base 28 and the lines of weakness 38 offers the advantage ofreducing the deformation resistance of each segment 18 during pushingout of a tampon contained in the applicator barrel 14 into the bodycavity. The width and the curvature of the segments 18 are reduced atthe hinge lines 36 and lines of weakness 38 with respect to the segmentbase 28 and the bending moment is reduced because of the weakening ofthe segments 18 on their inner surface. This occurs since the bendingforces necessary for spreading apart the segments 18 during pushing outof the tampon from the applicator barrel 14 do not have to be applied atthe beginning of the pushing out of the tampon, but essentially onlywhen the front end of the tampon has been advanced approximately onequarter to one third of the length of the segments.

Although according to FIG. 5 the lines of weakness 38 and hinge lines 36may be impressed or notched into the inner surface 22 of the segments 18at the same time as or step by step before or after the punching out ofthe said segments 18, according to FIG. 7 there is shown an outer die 50of a stamping and notching apparatus according to the invention with anaxial, cylindrical recess 54, the diameter of which correspondsapproximately to the outside diameter of the applicator barrel 14.Furthermore, the outer die 50 has a concave, preferably hemispherical,base 56 for receiving the triangular segments 18 at the front end of theapplicator barrel 14. In the recess 54, the inner surface 22 of anapplicator barrel 14 can be seen in longitudinal central section afterthe stamping of the lines of weakness 38.

As a further part of this stamping and notching apparatus, for stampingthe lines of weakness 38 and for notching the hinge lines 36, a firstembodiment of a stamping punch 60 is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 and a secondembodiment of a stamping punch 120 is shown in FIGS. 10 and 11.

According to FIGS. 8 to 11, in the case of both embodiments of thestamping and notching apparatus, the stamping punch 60; 120 is equippedwith a stamping head 82; 121, the diameters of which largely correspondto the inside diameter of the applicator barrel 14 and its convex,preferably hemispherical end face 83; 123 of the interior shape of thedome 20 of the applicator barrel 14 in FIG. 1. The outer surface of thestamping heads 82; 121 is partially provided with a knurling 84 whichextends over its circumference and, for the sake of simplicity, is shownonly in FIG. 8.

The stamping punches 60, 120 are in each case provided with a pluralityof circle-sector-like notching jaws 94; 132, the angle at circumferenceof which is 60° and consequently corresponds to a total number of sixsegments 18. The notching jaws 94; 132 can be moved back and forthradially with respect to the longitudinal center axis of the stampinghead 82; 121 by means of an actuating device 85; 125 and are provided onthe outside with notching edges 98; 136, which are arranged in a planedirected perpendicularly with respect to the main axis of the stampinghead 82; 121 at angular intervals on an imaginary circle for indentingthe hinge lines 36 on the inner surface 22 of the triangular segments 18of an applicator barrel 14.

The actuating device 85; 125 for the notching jaws 94; 132 in each casecomprises a spreading cone 88; 128, which is mounted axiallydisplaceably in the stamping punch 60 and 120, respectively. Thenotching jaws 94; 132 have spreading segments 96; 134 which bear againstthe spreading cone 88; 128 radially movably with respect to the mainaxis of the latter. If the stamping head 82; 121 encounters resistancewhen entering the outer die 50 in FIG. 7 on the curved base 56 of thecylindrical recess 54 of the said outer die, the notching jaws 94; 132with their notching edges 98; 136 are moved out by an axial movement ofthe spreading cone 88; 128 by a certain amount radially beyond the outercircumference of the stamping head 82; 121, in order to notch the hingelines 36 into the inner surface 22 of the segments 18 of the applicatorbarrel 14.

According to FIGS. 8 and 9, in the case of the first embodiment of thestamping and notching apparatus, the hemispherical stamping head 82 ofthe stamping punch 60 is arranged axially movably at a front end of apunching sleeve 62. The knurling 84 extends over the circumference ofthe end face of the stamping head 82 on a limited section of length of,for example, 5 mm. This knurling 84 comprises stamping ribs, whichextend in the axial direction of the stamping head 82, for example overa length of 5 mm, and have a spacing of approximately 0.5 mm ×30°.

The stamping head 82 is fastened on its rear end coaxially on anassembly shaft 78, which extends axially movably through the center ofthe notching jaws 94, of the spreading cone 88, of a compression spring86, formed by plate springs, and through a bore 70 in a transverse wall68 of the punching sleeve 62.

A plate-like widening 80 of the assembly shaft 78 bears against thesurface of the transverse wall 68 of the punching sleeve 62 facing awayfrom the stamping head 82 and consequently fixes the axial distance ofthe stamping head 82 from the punching sleeve 62.

The transverse wall 68 forms the base of a hollow space 74 of thepunching sleeve 62, which space has a cylindrical widening 76 at its endfacing towards the stamping head 82. The compression spring 86 isarranged in the hollow space 74 of the punching sleeve 62 and issupported with prestressing by one end on the transverse wall 68 of thepunching sleeve 62 and by the other end on the spreading cone 88.

The spreading cone 88 has a cylindrical section 90 which faces away fromthe stamping head 82 and is guided axially movably in the cylindricalhollow space 74 of the punching sleeve 62. A frustoconical section 92extends from this cylindrical section 90 into the cylindrical widening76 at the front end of the sleeve section 73.

The notching edges 98 of the six notching jaws 94 in each case extendradially with respect to the assembly shaft 78 through six radialgrooves 116 in an end rim 102 of the front sleeve section 73 of thepunching sleeve 62. In this case, the notching jaws 94 are arranged inthe position of rest or starting position shown in FIG. 8 at a clearaxial distance from a groove base 117 of the grooves 116 and bear withtheir notching edges 98 against a rear end face 100 of the stamping head82. In this case, the said clear distance between the notching jaws 94and the groove bases 117 corresponds approximately to the length of theworking stroke of the stamping head 82.

The spreading segments 96 of the notching jaws 94 extend partially intothe cylindrical widening 76 of the punching sleeve 62. Outer surfaces 97of the spreading segments 96 run axially parallel with respect to theassembly shaft 78 and are arranged on an imaginary enveloping cylinderat a radial distance from the wall of the cylindrical widening 76 whichis made greater than the radial working stroke of the notching jaws 94.

The spreading segments 96 lie with their inner surfaces 99 on animaginary frustoconical enveloping surface, the cone angle of whichcorresponds to that of the spreading cone 88, and are supported on thefrustoconical section 92 of the spreading cone 88. In this case,opposing end faces of the notching jaws 94 and of the spreading cone 88are arranged at an axial distance from one another which is madesufficiently large so that the notching jaws 94 can slide axially withtheir spreading segments 96 onto the spreading cone 88 and thereby bemoved into their radially outer notching position according to FIG. 9when the stamping head 82 in the outer die 50 has reached its stampingposition and is thereby displaced against the action of the compressionspring 86 by the notching jaws 94 in the direction of the punchingsleeve 62.

In FIG. 8, a rod-shaped holder 58 of the stamping head 82 is arrangedsuch that it can be moved back and forth coaxially by elements known perse (not shown) and is provided with an external thread 61. A rear sleevesection 72 of the cylindrical punching sleeve 62 is provided at its rearend, facing towards the holder 58, with a coaxial, cylindricaldepression 64 with an internal thread 66, by which the punching sleeve62 is screwed onto the holder 58 in an axially adjustable manner. Thedepression 64 is bounded by the transverse wall 68.

The notching jaws 94 are provided on their front surface, facing towardsthe stamping head 82, in each case with an axial continuation 104. Thesecontinuations 104 have on their radial outer surface arcuate grooves 106which are concentric with respect to the assembly shaft 78. A springring 108, for example an o-ring of flexible material, such as rubber, ora garter spring, is inserted in these grooves 106 of the notching jaws94, extending over the circumference of the continuations 104, in orderto hold the notching jaws 94 against the spreading cone 88 underflexible prestressing.

The stamping head 82 is provided on its rear end with an annular space110, the head wall 112 of which is directed normally with respect to theassembly shaft 78 and is arranged at an axial distance from thecontinuations 104 of the notching jaws 94. The annular space 110 issurrounded by an annular rim 114, which has the rear, circular end face100 which, as mentioned, bears against the end face of the notching jaws94 which faces towards the stamping head 82.

FIG. 9 shows the stamping position of the stamping head 82, which thelatter assumes when the stamping punch 60 has reached its end positionin the outer die 50. In this stamping position, the notching edges 98project radially beyond the rear outer rim of the stamping head 82 andtherefore notch the hinge lines 36 in each case into the inner surfaceof the segments 18 of the applicator barrel 14. At the same time, thelines of weakness 38 are impressed into the inner surface 22 of thesegments 18 by the knurling 84 of the stamping head 82. It goes withoutsaying that, depending on the type of stamping pattern chosen and thecircumferential length of the hinge line 36 for each segment 18, theapplicator barrel 14 must be aligned regarding the position of itssegments 18 with respect to the stamping head 82 and the notching edges98.

In FIG. 10 the second embodiment of the stamping punch 120 with thehemispherical stamping head 121 is shown, in the case of which, for thesake of simplicity, the knurling is no longer shown. Through thisstamping head 121 there extends a central bore 122, which is widened onthe outer surface of the stamping head 121 and opens out on the rear endof the stamping head 121 into a coaxial, cylindrical recess 126. Thisrecess 126 is surrounded by an annular rim 129, which has a rear,circular end face 131.

The stamping head 121 is firmly arranged on the front end of a punchingsleeve 138, which has a central, cylindrical, hollow space 137 which,similarly to the punching sleeve 62 in FIGS. 8 and 9, is provided with atransverse wall 135, which has a central bore 133.

Similarly to FIGS. 8 and 9, an assembly shaft 118 is mounted axiallymovably in the punching sleeve 138 and in the transverse wall 135 of thelatter but, in contrast to the first embodiment, forms a unit not onlywith the actuating device 125 but also with a front push rod 124. In itsunactuated position, the push rod 124 passes through the central bore122 of the stamping head 121, projecting beyond the curved end face 123of the latter. The length by which the push rod 124 projects beyond theend face 123 is sufficient for the working or notching stroke of theassembly shaft 118 for notching in the hinge lines 36 on the innersurface 22 of the segments 18 of the applicator barrel 14. In contrastto the first embodiment, the truncated spreading cone 128 of theactuating device 125 is widened towards a head wall 139 of the recess126. A helical compression spring 130 is arranged in the hollow space137 of the punching sleeve 138, which spring is supported underprestressing by its one end on the transverse wall 135 and by its otherend on an end face of the spreading cone 128 which faces away from thestamping head 121. As a consequence, in the starting position shown inFIG. 10, the spreading cone 128 is pressed by its front end face againstthe head wall 139 of the recess 126.

The stamping head 121 is at a certain, unchangeable, axial distance fromthe punching sleeve 138 of the stamping punch 120, forming radialthrough-openings 140 for the passing through of the notching jaws 132between the rear end face 131 of the stamping head 142 and a front endface 142 of the punching sleeve 138.

The spreading segments 134 on the side of the notching jaws 132 which isfacing towards the stamping head 121 are provided, in a plane normalwith respect to the longitudinal axis of the stamping punch 120, witharcuate grooves 106 for receiving a tension-spring ring 108, by means ofwhich the notching jaws 132 are prestressed radially inward with respectto the longitudinal axis of the stamping punch 120.

Once the outer die 50 according to FIG. 7 is fitted with an applicatorbarrel 14, the stamping head 121 can be inserted into the outer die 50.The push rod 124 is thereby moved through the front opening 48, boundedby the free ends of the segments 18 of the applicator barrel 14, againstthe hemispherical base 56 of the outer die 50 and is pressed by the saidbase axially into the stamping head 121. As a result, the spreading cone128 spreads the notching jaws 132, so that the spreading segments 134are moved with their notching edges 136 radially outward in order toprovide the inner surface of the segments 18 with the hinge lines 36.The stamping head 121 is provided on its outer surface, similarly to thestamping head 82 in FIGS. 8 and 9, with stamping ribs, which are notshown here. Instead of the stamping ribs, a knurling comprisingpunctiform studs may also be provided, if appropriate, for producing theregion of weakness on the inner surface of the segments 18 of theapplicator barrel 14.

The process for producing the tampon applicator 10 comprises the feedingof a longitudinally extending web of paper-like material with a widthwhich is made somewhat greater than twice the length of the finishedapplicator barrel 14. In this case, the segments 18 are cut continuouslyor step by step one after the other out of the two longitudinal edges ofthe web. Thereafter, the web is subdivided into sections of length, thelength of which corresponds in each case to the circumferential lengthof an applicator barrel 14. Thereupon, the sections of length are cutthrough in the longitudinal center, so that in each case two sections oflength 40 are formed in a way corresponding to the developed projectionin FIG. 5. Then the front end and rear end of each section of length 40are joined together by adhesion or heat-sealing to give a cylindricalapplicator barrel 14. Subsequently, the segments 18 are shaped to give ahemispherical dome 20 with a central opening 48, bounded by the tips 26of the segments 18. There are thereby simultaneously impressed into theinner surface 22 and at an axial distance from the base 28 of thesegments 18 a hinge line 36, directed in the circumferential directionof the applicator barrel 14, and also lines of weakness 38, extendingsubstantially in the longitudinal direction of the segments 18, on theside of each hinge line 36 facing away from the bases 28.

The simultaneous stamping of the hinge lines 36, running in thecircumferential direction of the segments 18, and longitudinallydirected lines of weakness 38 on the inner surface of the segments 18 ofthe applicator barrel 14 takes place between the stamping head 82 or 121and the outer die 50 by means of the smooth, concave recess 54.

In the case of the two-part tampon applicator described above, the outerbarrel may be provided on its inner wall with a radially inwardlyprojecting ejecting element, known per se, which protrudes through alongitudinal slit of the sleeve-shaped slide and initially bears againstthe recovery end of a tampon arranged in the slide. When the tamponapplicator is put to use, the slide can be pulled out from the outerbarrel until behind the recovery end of the tampon, the ejecting elementkeeping the tampon stationary, so that the latter finally bears againstthe inner wall of the outer barrel and can subsequently be ejected intothe body cavity.

As a departure from the described exemplary embodiment of a two-parttampon applicator with outer barrel and slide, the tampon applicatormay, however, also be used as a single barrel. In this case, thewithdrawal string of a tampon arranged in the applicator barrel, betweenthe inner wall of the applicator barrel and the approximatelycylindrical circumferential surface of the tampon, is led through anopening or a slit in the cylindrical barrel wall in the region of theejecting end of the applicator barrel, so that the tampon can beinserted into the body cavity by pulling the withdrawal string out fromthe applicator barrel.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

10 Tampon applicator

12 Slide

14 Applicator barrel

16 Withdrawal string

18 Segment

20 Dome

22 Inner surface

24 Outer surface

26 Rounded-off tip (segment)

28 Base

30 Side edge

32 Side edge

34 slits

36 Hinge line

38 Lines of weakness

40 Section of length

48 Opening

50 Outer die

54 Recess

56 Base

58 Holder

60 Stamping punch

61 External thread

62 Punching sleeve

64 Depression

66 Internal thread

68 Transverse wall

70 Bore

72 sleeve section (rear)

74 Hollow space

76 Widening

78 Assembly shaft

80 Plate-like widening (assembly shaft)

82 Stamping head

83 End face (stamping head)

84 Knurling

85 Actuating device

86 Compression springs (prestressing device)

88 Spreading cone

90 Cylindrical section

92 Frustoconical section

94 Notching jaws

96 Spreading segments

98 Notching edges

100 Rear end face

102 End rim

104 Axial continuation

106 Arcuate grooves

108 Spring ring

110 Annular space

112 Head wall

114 Annular rim

116 Radial grooves

117 Groove bases

118 Assembly shaft

120 Stamping punch

121 Stamping head

122 Bore

123 End face

124 Push rod

125 Actuating device

126 Recess

127 Conical face

128 Spreading cone

129 Annular rim

130 compression spring

131 Rear end face

132 Notching jaws

133 Bore

134 Spreading segments

135 Transverse wall

136 Notching edges

137 Hollow space, central, cylindrical

138 Punching sleeve

139 Head wall

140 Through-openings

142 End face

What is claimed is:
 1. Tampon applicator for feminine hygiene,comprising: a) a cylindrical applicator barrel, having a centrallongitudinal axis and a front end from which extend a plurality ofgenerally triangular segments which are bent forwards and inward withrespect to the longitudinal axis of the applicator barrel, forming adome, each segment having i) an inner surface and an outer surface, ii)opposite side edges, the side edges of each segment being independent ofthe side edges of adjacent segments, iii) a tip, iv) a base at which thesegment is joined to the cylindrical applicator barrel, v) a pluralityof lines of weakness provided on the inner surface, and vi) a hinge linerunning in the circumferential direction of the applicator barrel,wherein the hinge line is offset from the base of the segments towardthe segment tips, the lines of weakness are offset from the hinge line,toward the segment tips, and the lines of weakness consist essentiallyof lines extending substantially in a direction generally correspondingto the longitudinal axis over a portion of the length of each segment;and b) a plunger telescopically disposed within the applicator barrel.2. Tampon applicator according to claim 1, wherein the lines of weaknesshave an equal length.
 3. Tampon applicator according to claim 1, whereinthe lines of weakness converge toward the tip.
 4. Tampon applicatoraccording to claim 1, wherein the lines of weakness are arrangedapproximately parallel to one another.
 5. Tampon applicator according toclaim 1, wherein the length of the lines of weakness increases towards acenter of said segments.
 6. Tampon applicator according to claim 1,wherein the lines of weakness have a length of about 2.5 to 6.5 mm. 7.Tampon applicator according to claim 6, wherein the lines of weaknessare about 4 mm long.
 8. Tampon applicator according to claim 1, whereinthe hinge line is offset from the base of each segment by about 2 to 6mm.
 9. Tampon applicator according to claim 8, wherein the hinge line isoffset from the base of each segment by about 3.5 mm.
 10. Tamponapplicator according to claim 1, wherein opposite ends of the hinge lineof each segment are offset from the respective side edge of therespective segment.
 11. Tampon applicator according to claim 10, whereinthe ends of the hinge line of each segment are offset from therespective side edge by about 1 mm.
 12. Tampon applicator according toclaim 1, wherein the tips of the segments are rounded-off and define afront, central opening of the applicator barrel.
 13. Tampon applicatoraccording to claim 12, wherein the front opening of the applicatorbarrel has a diameter of about 5 mm.
 14. Tampon applicator according toclaim 1, wherein the dome formed by the segments has an inner radius andouter radius in the range of about 6 to 9 mm.
 15. Tampon applicatoraccording to claim 1, wherein the base of the segments has a width ofabout 8.8 mm.
 16. Tampon applicator according to claim 1, wherein theapplicator barrel has a thickness of about 0.3 to 0.5 mm.
 17. Tamponapplicator according to claim 1, wherein the length of each segment fromthe base to the tip is about 10 mm.
 18. The applicator of claim 1wherein the applicator barrel is formed from a sheet of material. 19.The applicator of claim 18 wherein the material comprises paper.
 20. Theapplicator of claim 18 wherein the material comprises plastic. 21.Tampon applicator according to claim 1, wherein the hinge line isseparated from the base of the segments toward the segment tips.